ON #GOFUNDREGINA

Raising money for graduate school in the United States is no joke. Raising money for an arts-related endeavor in the Philippines is no laughing matter either.

One fine Monday morning in the month of May (May 25, 2015 to be exact) I launched an online crowd-funding campaign called #GoFundRegina on IndieGogo Life to raise funds for the first year of my graduate studies at The Juilliard School.

The #GoFundRegina cause has raised a total of $26,789.69 from both online and offline donations, which is $499.69 over its posted goal of $26,290.

From Laura Cabochan:"Regina offers a different story, a story that doesn't negate present realities, but is also a story available to all of us, individually and as a nation: that we can make great things happen, together.

It's scary to imagine another narrative for ourselves. What would the Philippines be like without its hardships? What would change if the conversations focused on dreams instead of problems? Imagine us, the entire Filipino community, committing even just a portion of our efforts into realizing this desire of ours for a better life for everyone, a life where everyone has the privilege to dream."

One of the things that prompted me to finally launch the campaign was the possibility of reaching the consciousness of students. It is important to set an example for young people that it is possible to dream big and take the necessary steps towards its direction despite all odds. If it is meant for you, the universe will find a way.

Days after I ended the campaign, I received an invite from Saint Paul College Pasig to give a talk about my journey for high school students. I agreed immediately. After all, this whole love affair with acting began for me in high school as well. Below is a teaser for the talk that one of the students created to promote the event for students.

WRAPPING UP #GOFUNDREGINA

Coming out is a violent process. It is an unearthing and an act of self-revelation. It is painful and liberating at the same time.In a series of three, I synthesize three key takeaways from one of the most interesting in-betweens of my life.